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Geoffrey Castle
Background information
Birth nameJeffrey Sick
OriginKirkland, WA
Occupation(s)Musician, Violinist
InstrumentViolin
Websitewww.geoffreycastle.com

Geoffrey Castle is a musician and violinist based in Kirkland, WA. Castle performs on the electric six-string violin[2] music from a range of genres, including Hendrix, Celtic, Bluegrass, and Mozart.

Early life and education

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Castle, born Jeffrey Sick, began playing violin at age nine in New York City. He studied privately and performed in school orchestras, all-city and all-state orchestras, and in his high school marching band in Alexandria, Virginia. He began solo performances on the electric violin at the age of 17. Castle earned money as a street musician while attending Columbia University where he received a Cum Laude degree in English and Comparative Literature.[3][4]

Career

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Castle has released seven albums on his own Twisted Fiddle Music label and four albums as a member of Children of the Revolution. As a session player he has contributed to many projects.[5][6][7] In 1998 he played on Jeanette Alexander's first album, Still Point.[8]

For several years Castle fronted the band Guarneri Underground.[9] He co-produced a self-titled album for this group in 2000.[10]

Castle has played as part of a variety of live productions, including the Broadway production of M. Butterfly to sharing the stage with members of YES, Heart and Queen,[11] as well as regular local performances in Kirkland.[12] Additionally, Castle has performed with visiting musicians from several countries,[13] and since 2011 has played in concerts with Lucy Wu, jinghu player and singer from the Beijing Opera, in an "East Meets West: Violin Meets Jinghu" collaboration.[14]

Castle organizes a series of "Celtic Christmas" and "St. Patrick's Day Celebration" concerts in theaters throughout the Northwest US. These performances are well attended and often sold out.[15]

Geoffrey Castle's music, both as a band leader and a solo artist, has been featured on radio and TV across the US,[16] and his violin work has been included in a number of movie and TV soundtracks.[17]

Community outreach

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Castle's schedule includes performances and workshops at schools around the United States, raising funds for student music programs.[2] Castle, along with 400 members of school orchestras in the Seattle area, set a world record for the most string players under one roof.[18][19] He also plays yearly in All-State WMEA and All Northwest.

Personal life

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Castle is married to artist Shannon Connor Castle.

Discography

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Solo albums

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  • Groovalaya (1992)
  • Street of Dreams (1995)
  • New World (as Guarneri Underground) (1996)
  • Captive (as Guarneri Underground) (1998)
  • Wander This World (as Guarneri Underground) (2001)
  • Mist on the Mountain (2006)
  • Underhill's Angel: A Treasury Of Songs For The Season (2007)
  • Streets of Inwood (2009)
  • Live at the Triple Door 2009 (2009)
  • Live at the Triple Door 2010 (2010)[20]
  • The Deep Well Sessions Vol 1 & Vol 2 (2012)

Contributing Musician

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  • Children Of The Revolution: It's All Greek To Me (2002)
  • Children Of The Revolution: Chapter One (2003)
  • Children Of The Revolution: Liberation (2003)[21]
  • Children Of The Revolution: Life, Love & Guantanamo Bay (2006)
  • Children Of The Revolution: Children Of The Revolution (2008)
  • Johnny Bacolas: The Sin (2011)[22]
  • Johnny Bacolas: Remake of "To Agalma" (2011)[23]
  • The Rumba Kings: The Instrumental and Vocal Sessions, Vol I (2018)[24]
  • The Rumba Kings: The Instrumental Sessions, Vol II (2019)[25]
  • The Rumba Kings: Dance with me (2020)[26]
  • The Rumba Kings: Mirame (2020)[27]

DVDs

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  • Live at the Triple Door (2009)[28]
  • The Deep Well Sessions (2012)

References

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  1. ^ "Stanwood-Camano fair boasts big-time entertainment". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b Andrew Wellner (Feb 11, 2012). "Geoffrey Castle:Rock the Butte". Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.
  3. ^ "Heart, Art & Soul: Castle headlines elementary school art program benefit". Journal of the San Juan Islands.
  4. ^ "Geoffrey Castle's Electric Violin Sings an Unexpected Tune". Patch.com.
  5. ^ Deborah Stone. "Geoffrey Castle inspires with his music". Woodinville Weekly".
  6. ^ JASMIN, ERNEST. "Violinist promises 'cliché-free' concert". Tacoma Weekly. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  7. ^ "London Tone Music’s 52 Week Project Creates Special Night at Triple Door". Northwest Music Scene, May 5, 2015 Tara Woods
  8. ^ "Album Review: Jeanette Alexander - Walk in the Sun". MainlyPiano.com, Review by Michael Debbage.
  9. ^ "Mirth's in Music at the New Wine Stage". Eugene Register-Guard - Sep 14, 2003
  10. ^ "Albums" Michael Paoletta (16 December 2000). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 27–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  11. ^ "A&E briefs - Dec. 16, 2015". Sequim Gazette.
  12. ^ "Castle, providing Wilde nights at the Rover since 2008". Kirkland Reporter, By TJ MARTINELL, reporter, June 4, 2014
  13. ^ "'Revolution' -- a tight band with members from all over the map". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  14. ^ "Electric Violinist Geoffrey Castle at Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater, Snohomish". News of Mill Creek.
  15. ^ "Geoffrey Castle's Celtic Christmas comes to Everett". The Herald.
  16. ^ "Geoffrey Castle Performs". Northwest Prime Time.
  17. ^ "Geoffrey Castle Our Own Eastside Resident Organically Climbs The Ladder Of Musical Success". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  18. ^ "It's official: String Jam '10 earns Guinness World Record for largest string ensemble under one roof". Redmond Reporter.
  19. ^ Prosser, Keegan. "Geoffrey Castle Electrifies St. Paddy's Day". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  20. ^ "SMI Featured Artist of the Month (June): Geoffrey Castle Triple Door Show Review (SMI Radio interview & SMI TV video) - SMI (Seattle Music Insider)". Seattle Music Insider.
  21. ^ "Liberation - Children of the Revolution". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  22. ^ "The Sin". AllMusic.
  23. ^ "To Agalma". AllMusic.
  24. ^ "The Instrumental and Vocal Sessions, Vol I". AllMusic.
  25. ^ "The Instrumental Sessions, Vol II". AllMusic.
  26. ^ "Dance with me". AllMusic.
  27. ^ "Mirame". AllMusic.
  28. ^ "Geoffrey Castle Triple Door Show Review". Seattle Music Insider. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
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